Public Worship with Communion by Extension

Yesterday's half day training means that I am now available to officiate at a service of Public Worship with Communion by Extension.  The old arrangements have been replaced and a new form of service created.  The service is designed to high light the differences between Holy Communion and what I struggle to resist calling unholy communion - which it most certainly isn't, of course.  We were asked what receiving the bread and wine means to us?  Before you read on, take a minute to think what it means to you.

To me it is the closest experience I have of God.  The time when I can connect with Jesus' death and resurrection more easily and more fully than is normally possible.  It is Jesus' command - "do this in remembrance of me" - just as "love one another as I have loved you" is a command.  It is the one act in a worship service that distinguishes us from other religions singing hymns and praising the same, or a different God.

Many of the Readers there said similar things, and much more.  Eventually the question was raised - the one that really needed discussion.  Where are the benefits from - the bread and the wine, or the priest (who has blessed it)? 
If the sacrament is being transported and is lost, and then eaten by a non-beliver who finds it - do they receive the benefits? - No.  That would make it 'magic' food.  If a priest alone blessed some bread and wine and eats and drinks it does (s)he get the benefit.  No - because there is no communion (no community).  So the benefits come from the act of remembrance, the faith of the believers, and the presence of God.  Everything in the Church must be done in an ordered fashion.  Paul tells the hungry to eat at home, so that everyone may get a share and order be maintained.  That is why we need a licensed member of the clergy to say the prayer of blessing.

Having then completed the process in an orderly fashion we are now talking about the distribution, which is extended from one congregation to another.  (hence by Extension).  The service therefore goes out of its way to avoid looking like a Holy Communion service.

We were asked to look at delivering a Service of the Word as an alternative to communion and to accept that PWCE was the worst of the options.  That is not my view.  At Easter the other year, when Warner was ill we went out of our way to make Easter Day a proper communion service. We recognised that the alternative (by extension, under the old arrangements) was not good enough, but as a very last resort we would have offered communion by extension.  No-one ever suggested a service of the word.  We are just trying to follow Jesus' command as best we can in our imperfect and sinful world.

My personal view is that some form of communion is better than no communion, and judging by the comments of those present at the training I am not alone. 

Fairy Cake

In my browsing this morning I found out that it was the Anglican Feast Day for St. Julian of Norwich on Friday. It seems that she saw in her visions God in (something the size of) a hazel nut. The revelation that God is everywhere and in everything shouldn't be a surprise. "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." Heb 1:3.
Even the atheists recognise that the universe has something of itself in every part of it.

Total Perspective Vortex - Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
"Have some sense of proportion!" she would say, sometimes as often as thirty-eight times in a single day.

And so he built the Total Perspective Vortex - just to show her.

And into one end he plugged the whole of reality as extrapolated from a single piece of fairy cake, and into the other end he plugged his wife: so that when he turned it on she saw in one instant the whole infinity of creation and herself in relation to it.

I have not read much about Julian or much of her work, though I do remember (something of) a long piece I read at Pleshey on my first Reader training retreat many many years ago. It had to do with God not being angry, or rather not being capable of being angry. The context I think was individual Christians. I found it very hard to believe that I could not make God angry, not that I was trying to, just that I was so inept that I couldn't see how he couldn't be angry. Likewise how could God not be angry when two 'Christian' nations are at war with each other (e.g. WWII). Is this the reason that western Europe is such a Godless place? - because God is angry?

I struggled with the concepts for a while and eventually left it alone, but every time I hear of her, it all comes straight back. Maybe I do her an injustice on such flimsy evidence - just maybe.

Refreshing

Surprise! When Jo came to pick me up from work today she told me that we have a new shower.
After 3 or 4 goes at contacting our plumber, we finally agreed a time for him to come round and take a look. That was Saturday. Today, he just turned up and fitted it. So its back to showering tomorrow and I won't have to give up washing for Lent.

Meanwhile the exercises that I have been given do seem to be making some difference to the strength and reach of the right arm. I sat in the drivers seat of the car today and checked out the movement around the steering wheel. Driving looks a distinct possibility now, whereas on Saturday I definitely could not get my arm high enough under its own power.

The journey to work is about 90% by car, and the rest is a short walk. This is to ensure that I get at least some basic exercise, other than the recovery requirement. I was reminded on my walk in that a few years ago we did a map of our walk to work for Lent - as part of our training. The objective was to help us reflect on the different people and places we passed. Their significance for us and for others and whether there was anything we should do - like get involved with the people inside one of the buildings in some way. Tonight I read the Lent entry 'Coming up for Air', and thought how nice it would be to breath fresh air, instead of the exhaust fumes I get on my journey.

A shower is refreshing in the morning, so is my walk once I get past the worst of the traffic. They (and coffee) set me up for the mornings work on MS-SQL and VB 2005. Then at lunch time I go down for air, and take a short walk to set myself up for the afternoon.

Failed plans & The Red Lion, Billericay

Today was supposed to be my day to prepare for the funeral training that will occur for newly licensed Readers at the end of November / beginning of December. There is more to it than I realised, and I'm rather glad there is, because I didn't like the idea of 'gate-crashing' someones funeral. Now hopefully, I will feel that I'm invited on some level. We will see. So that effort is now re-scheduled, and the rest of the day is free.
We decided to have lunch at the Red Lion - Jo had been there before, I had not. It did not turn out to be a good experience. The bar staff were running around writing everything on post-it notes. It took a good five minutes to get served, while they busily served the customers who had just arrived ahead of me. Still people make mistakes, so we ordered our food, sat down with our drinks and waited. At least it's in the warm, and out of the wind. And waited. The Knife and fork arrived, and we waited some more. The food arrived. Scampi, chips, and peas - regular pub food, but not in this case. The peas had not yet reached room temperature, and the scampi had only just exceeded it. I was hungry, so I ate it, and I probably shouldn't have. When the waitress came to clear the table I told her about the food. The manager came and apologized, but the damage was done. We are unlikely to return for another try, and certainly weren't going to stay for the free sweet.
It is so true that we only get one chance to make a good impression. That's why we have to be well trained and functioning at our best whenever we are doing something for the church involving those who are not regulars. That's why I'm glad that today's activities were postponed, and will happen later with better planning, and the right approach.

Weekend at Pleshey

Friday was a panic. Not only was I covering for the escalation manager, but the afternoon had its own crises in my regular job. I was also trying to pack and calm down before my retreat. We have a quiet weekend, at the Pleshey retreat house, in preparation for licensing. The licensing service is now just 13 days away. I filled a bag with all I needed for the weekend, and stopped work just as soon as I could. The arrival time at Pleshey was set for 6pm to 6:30pm. The journey time according to google maps is about 40 minutes. I left about 5:40. Travel through the High Street was slow, then on to the A12, and a top speed of some 35MPH due to traffic (it's Friday after all). I arrived at Pleshey at 6:29, so just made it. I was welcomed and shown to my room. Comfortable enough, but nowhere to write. The evening session was a welcoming from the leader, and started the story of his holiday, which would make up all of the talks during the weekend. Each of the talks was focused on Reader Ministry - Preaching and Teaching - and gave us just a last minute insight into the role we have all agreed to take on. The whole class were there, and a couple of others who are to be licensed, but have come via a different route. Friday night I was exhausted and went to be about 10pm, having found it impossible to pray, or really relax.
Saturday was better, breakfast at 8:45 allows plenty of time to get up, was and dress, and have a wander around the grounds before the day really starts. During the day there were a further 3 talks, all centred around the holiday in Somerset, that our leader had recently experienced. He was going back to his childhood home village. Saturday afternoon is traditionally free, and as I enjoy walking I put on my coat and boots and set out. Across the road were a few old traction engines, I wandered over to take a look. Some of my colleagues were already there, we chatted and drifted into the pub and chatted some more. Then it was time to return to the retreat house, for tea. So no walk then, but the fellowship had probably been more useful - 4 old(ish) men putting their (Christian) world to rights.
It usually takes me at least one day to be properly relaxed at any type of weekend away, be it church, conference or retreat. It was true this time as well. Only during the last talk of the day on Saturday did I sense God's presence with us at all. That talk, although as gentle and as interesting as the others in its nature, affected me more deeply, and I returned to my room immediately it had finished to pray. 40 minutes later I was in the lounge enjoying the Tea and chat, and winding down for bed. I also had some ideas that I was desperately in need of for some of the things I have to do in the short term future.
Today was just incredible. Today we shared morning prayer together, and it was as though I had never been anywhere else. There was communion before lunch, the lunch time together and the good byes - well the see-you-in-two-weeks's.

Pleshey is a lovely place to go, a very old house, that creaks as you walk around it, and must have things in it from every era since it was built. The staff there provide good simple food, and more than you could possibly eat. The village is lovely, and the grounds are small, but well kept. It is a place of peace.

The library, and the other book shelves contain an amazing range of books - Spiritual book, and studies of course, but also some Pratchett, some political autobiographies, and some readers digest novels. I began reading "Till we have faces", and I will now have to find a copy and finish it!

Although this retreat was specifically designed to be for trainee readers about to be licensed, Pleshey run many other events during the year, some ore open to anyone to attend. Details are on the web site.

There are a few pictures of my weekend here.

Uniform

My robes arrived today, my second try at my last essay was sent off yesterday. There is a retreat before licensing - in September, so well before. I guess that's my chance to think about what I've done and how my life will change. Right now I'm trying to thinks about what to write in Spotlight (our monthly magazine), I think its tiem I wrote something.

Random Blog

So Liz is home, and its been quite strange having 5 in the house again. One more potential conflict for the bathroom, and a somewhat reluctant tutor for her father. Liz has a degree that involves Theology, so when my essay received a rather dubious mark (not really good enough - you haven't answered the question), I turned to Liz to get some un-involved feedback. So far so good. I'lll let you know how I get on... ... ...
Liz has also had her friend to stay for a couple of days this weekend, and the discussion turned to various pieces of (ill-thought-through) theology over the lunch table. So where exactly is Noah's boat, and how did he stop the lions from fighting the tigers? Some other questions that escape me now (thankfully).
This then followed on from the Family service, with two baptisms, that I was leading, but where the preacher (Jane) compared Saul to a caterpillar (always wanting more) to Paul as a butterfly (following an amazing transformation, showing the glory of the risen Lord Jesus). I will never think of him in quite the same way again.
Anyway those were just the sort of thoughts I needed to get my brain going again.

Mike has been to the V Festival (in Chelmsford, just about 9 miles away) for the weekend, and seems to have had a really good time in the wet and the cold of a particularly poor British summer. It was also strange not having him at home.

So we are back to normal now, whatever that is.

The last Reader Training Morning

Tomorrow is the last Reader Training morning. I have to prepare fro this by printing a passport size photo of me. I have an HP printer, HP paper, and set the HP printer drivers to the correct settings for the paper. The result: a picture with black dots all over it, a green band, a purple band, and worse its printed over the tab! The test black and white one is better - printed in fast draft! Well that technology for you.

Now I have to fill in another CRB form, and have another check so that I'm certified as not convicted of any crime. I know why this is, its all about Child Protection, about making sure that people who work with children aren't known to be intending their harm. I'm avoiding the 'p' word - deliberately. The form is not so onerous, but its a form, and I hate forms.

Why does the good God of Christian belief let evil exist?

Peter Vardy sets out to answer this question in "The Puzzle of Evil". Follow the link to read my review. This is one of the set book for Reader Training.

Me on FaceBook

At last I've found how to get the link for blogger to facebook. So its all starting to come together, which is more than I can say for "God and Evil". Still a whole 2 days to go, and I'm just over half way through.

Reader Training Tutor Group

On Tuesday we attended our penultimate Reader Training Tutor group session. There were two very good parish project presentations (not mine, that's next time).
I also had my training sermons returned, so I've published them :

http://3cephas-notes.blogspot.com/2007/06/training-sermon-2-18-march-2007.html
http://christchurch-billericay.co.uk/assets/applets/2007-03-18_Pete_Fisher_-_Get_Jesus__Get_Forgiven__Get_Peace.wma

and

http://3cephas-notes.blogspot.com/2007/06/reader-training-sermon-3-jesus-and.html
http://christchurch-billericay.co.uk/assets/applets/2007-04-22_Pete_Fisher_-_Jesus__who_is_He.wma

11:15 @ All Saints

This is my first Communion service at All Saints. After the service, I joke with one of the wardens that St Peters is beginning to seem like a rehearsal. There's some truth in this for me, though. The sermon was the 'same' when I last attended both churches. It is the same this morning. In both cases the sermon delivered at All Saints is easier to understand, seems to flow more naturally, and for me at least has the greater impact. It is also fair to say that the only times I have heard sermons repeated in succession is in this setting. Perhaps it will always be like that. Perhaps the hearer of the sermon (in this case) is more responsible than he realises for what he takes away. Perhaps he should concentrate harder, or pray more before receiving. Perhaps he's just getting old and needs to hear things twice before they end up in his brain! 

 All Saints has a lovely feel to it, and again I enjoyed watching the bell ringers. This was a bright and cool morning. People were sitting in the locations that had heaters under the seats. The full width is used for communion, and there's a simple flow system so that you don't trip over anyone. At the end of the service, I inspect the font (mentioned at the PCC), and take a look around the church. The churchyard clear up day has made a big difference, and people are impressed with the turn-out - the number of people who helped. The ATC were also there and worked hard. Here are a couple of pics of the churchyard: The churchyard is almost full, with very few spaces left. There is a big field at the back of the church.

9:30 @ St. Peters Hutton

It's All Saints' Day, the firework party happened on Friday. I'm greeted by a friendly church warden, and we have a brief chat. The fireworks display went well and was sold out. Numbers have to be limited because of the size of the field. There are a number of fathers and small children in church this morning, and I will have brief conversations with a couple of them later. The small children are well-behaved and make little noise during the service. The church warden delivers small bags of things for the children to play with. Brenda has returned from her travels, and is at the front with Bob throughout the service. Bob leads and Brenda preaches. 10 minutes on the reading from Revelation, and our understanding of Heaven. A much reduced Sunday School arrives towards the end of communion, and take their places at the front of church. For communion in St. Peters, we stand in front of a raised area, two steps high. It's curved, and protrudes into the church slightly. The servers go forward to receive first, and the distribution continues from there. Blessings are said for the children. There are four in the choir this morning. One I had definitely not seen before. The sung parts of the worship don't work terrible well, but they are trying their best.

Reader Training - Ethics

OK, so I'm permanently two days behind! Saturday was Ethics training, and we studied good practice in leading a church. It was an interesting few hours, and the group is noticeably more at ease with each other after the weekend away. That's not to imply there was tension, because there never has been. We also received our ethics assignment, which is our summer homework. Ethics apparently is hard, according to our tutor, so I'm looking forward to a challenging time at my PC for the next few weeks. What's that, I hear you say, "Stop blogging and get on with it!"? Well, OK, but first I have some family matters to sort out.

Fathers Day

Came at the end of a weekend away at a reader training residential weekend. The rest of Sunday was spent working on the Essay, and talking to the girls. The essay is due tomorrow, and is going to get one last review tonight. Then late in the evening, after watching France draw in the world cup, I took the boys out for a drink. Very nice half day at home, and not a bad half day at St Marks either.

If you thought last week was busy.......

Then this week there is lots more to do. I'm covering for a colleague who is on holiday, I found out last Friday! His job is one that requires active participation, a lot of the time. My nice regular week is in tatters. To top that, my job has also been busier than usual. All good fun, and I'm on a Reader training weekend from Friday to Sunday.

Only Tuesday

Back from the weekend, and into the world of work. It all seems so unimportant, I really struggled to get anything done yesterday. Today was better - some mundane tasks out the way. Yesterday's tutorial was cancelled, so I had a night in that I didn't expect - and attended meetings I'd expected to avoid. I finally have a Spiritual Director (Advisor) so all the pieces are in place.

My week - at a glance

Tutor Group – Monday

I got my Hermeneutics essay (on Revelation) back, as you already know, I had “Pass” on the end. There were of course one or two other comments, mostly OK, and one comment about a piece which I remember not finishing!! I'm really very pleased with this, because it means I have an idea of the level I have to work at for future essays, and other submissions. 2 down, and loads to go.

Cancelled – Thursday I received a phone call from the Argos activity line. Our racing event has been cancelled (not enough participants), after six months of trying to book it we're back to square one!.

Manager leaves – Friday Last Wednesday I heard a rumour that my manager might be moving on. On Thursday, I was told unofficially by a colleague that he was leaving the company. On Friday I received an e-mail, which, heavily paraphrased, said “I'm leaving the company. Thanks for your commitment and support in the past, you have some difficult challenges ahead this year – good luck!” Shock was not the word, as you can imagine. Anyway, the guy who has taken over is someone I've worked with before, and is UK based, rather than being based in America. So that's probably a good thing, but we don't yet know who will get his job. The speculation has started.

Hawthorn – Saturday I was asked to put up the new washing line. No problem, it's a nice day for it, but I'll have to give the tree a trim, so that I can get to the branch, to tie on the line on. Well, I started, and there always seemed a bit more to cut off. That tree has needed a trim for a good few years. Some 'tree surgeon' came round, and said £400 to trim it down to say 1/3^rd the size. After my “Hmm, that's rather a lot” he came down a couple of times to £250 – still too much in my opinion. Mike was a great help, and I think enjoyed himself, hanging off branches, doing lots of sawing, and a little running away as he was almost smothered by a falling branch. There are two branches cut through, but still firmly attached to the tree. That's going to be a challenge for later. As Andy said, “It's more a 'Number 1' than a trim.” Yes, if you've guessed, you're right, the washing line isn't up yet!

GRID – Sunday Not F1, that hasn't started yet, but the church rota for the next quarter. I find I'm preaching twice, after being told that I probably wouldn't get any slots. Also, they're both at 10am, which is better than expected. Let's just hope the training doesn't take off in a big way.

Carvery - Sunday Andy had a day off, and as promised we went to the Stockbrook Carvery. It's very nice, the food is excellent, and the service is good. The place to go for Sunday Lunch, if you don't want to travel far. Looking forward to doing it again sometime. I'm now very full, and very tired, and very satisfied. I've also just watched Corpse Bride, so I've had a very good weekend.

Reader Training : Worship Training Day

Last weekend, Saturday 26 November to be exact, was worship training day. It was a good day, and showed us the structure of services and the important elements of each. I’ve also written an article that is now published in Spotlight.

Started!

Saturday, So we have finally started. It's been a long wait from the end of CCS, through selection until now. Last Saturday was kick-off day, and we have picked up six books. They are relatively slim, not the doorstops we had to look at when I tried this last time, 12 or 13 years ago. So we're off, but what to do? Well, that has to wait for the opening tutor group meeting, which is currently scheduled for next Monday, but not confirmed yet. I'm still impatient and want to get going, but before then I have other things to think about. Preparing the talk for Alpha, "How does God guide?", is going to keep me occupied, as is preparing the notes for Advent for the preachers.  

Sunday, What an early start, I was tired all day. It was worth it to see Räikkönen pass Fisichella on the last lap to take the race and save his team 4 points. Well worth a whole day of tiredness. The afternoon was uncle Albert's 90th, and a good time was had by all. Now I've met the relatives on my father-in-law's side of the family again, worked out who they all are, and somehow invited them to my 50th party (considering we weren't drunk, how DID that happen?). Still, I had a good time playing with Jude, who, like all tiny boys, just loves pretending to be on a fairground ride. Also met Mark's grandad at this event, and had a nice little chat about our youth worker. It's a small world.  

Tuesday As both the girls would say "God is good". I've been praying for help with the reader training and the problems I have with evening meetings. Just how am I going to find a couple of hours of peace and quiet to study, prepare, write, re-write, or just reflect? Not easy when there are evening meetings 3 out of 5 days. Never mind, there are discussions about possible reorganization at work, and I'm in line for a UK based role, if it happens. Sounds like an answer to prayer - not the one I was expecting, certainly, but it delivers what's required.  

Things to look forward to Next week I'm on holiday. No great plans, just a rest, and some catching up. Hopefully I'll get to see Forgotten Empire: The World Of Ancient Persia and The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.